Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-06-04
AN UNPARALLELED CASE.
Conviction OF Blind Man for Numbering
q Saloon-keeper.

Conviction Of a Blind Man for Numbering
Saloon-keeper.
A remarkable trial closed here to-day
in the conviction of Charles X. Gaines, a
blind man, for murder in the second de-
gree, probably the only case of the kind
on record. Charles X. Gaines was born
in Sycamore, Wyandotte county, fifty
years ago. At the age of four years
he one day wandered from the door to
the barn, where his attention was at
tracted by litter of pigs. These struck
his fancy, and he appropriated one, and
this so enraged the sow that she rushed
at him and mangled him terribly,
his eyes being destroyed. The child
was rescued and recovered, though his
eyeballs were entirely gone. In few
years he had developed remarkable
sensitiveness of touch, smell and hear
ing. He had strong tendency to pre-
cociousness, and before he had gro wn up
became the terror of the neighborhood.
He would wander about, night and day,
without guide, and was never known
to get lost. He knew where every melon
patch was, where the best peaches and
plums grew, and where the best berries
ripened, and was never backward
about helping himself to any of these or
other delicacies. While yet boy he
was presented with pair of game
chickens by an old minister named Spot
ford, who resided at Sycamore. The
blind boy took great interest in these
chickens and raised more. 1t was not
long until he had several game cocks
trained for fighting, and would take
them about the country to pit against
others. He would bet on his favorite
and nobody could fool him about tho re-
suit. Standing among the crowd he
always knew whether his chickens were
getting the worst or the best of the fight.
As he grew to manhood he learned to
drink whiskey, and became ugly and
quarrelsome.
In 1871 he married Medora Sprague, a
graduate of Tiffin High School. For a
time he was sober and industrious. He
Joined the church and made temperance
speeches, greatly moving his audiences.
Many are the strange things he has
done. He has been seen on steep
roof mailing on shingles, and working as
well and as fast as the next man. He
could find his way with perfect ease
anywhere; could recognize an acquaint-
ance at some distance before he spoke,
rode horseback recklessly and played the
violin finely. His career as temper
ance advocate was short, for he soon
went back to drinking and abusing his
wife and children. The climax was
reached last August when he went on a
protracted spree, and his wife ordered
the saloon keeper to not sell him any
whiskey. The next day Gaines and his
nephew, Nathan Echelbery, got drunk
on hard cider, and then went to the
saloon and demanded whiskey. Failing
to get it, they left and tried to borrow a
revolver, but could not get one.
They then returned to the saloon, each
with large stone, and, again being
refused whiskey, they killed the saloon
keeper with the stones. The police ar
rested Gaines in the cane field, and he
was brought in hatless, coatless, shoeless
and eyeless. With long hair hanging
over his shoulders, and six feet tall, he
looked like wild man. For eight
months he has sat in Jail, amusing him
self with his violin. His nephew and
accomplice was sent to the penitentiary
for life, and his own conviction now fol
lows.